Adsorption of rare earth metals: A review of recent literature

Rare earth elements (REEs) have gained considerable attention due to their unique properties and their use in huge range of industrial applications. They are widely used in different sectors such as, nuclear energy, metallurgy, medicine, chemical engineering, electronics, and computer manufacturing. As a result, the recovery of REEs is a significant issue that needs appropriate attention. There are many methods to recover REEs such as precipitation, filtration, solvent extraction etc. but these methods are not economically attractive. Among the available methods, adsorption has gained wider attention because of its simplicity, high efficiency and low cost. This review article presents the recently published literature (after 2013) regarding the removal of rare earth metals from aqueous solution by different low cost adsorbents. For this purpose, best applying model (isotherm, kinetic), thermodynamic studies and other factors which influence the adsorption process (such as the effect of solution pH, contact time, temperature and adsorbent's dose) are also discussed.